Electric engine cooling jacket heater



Oct. 12, 1965 1 E. wlNDsoR 3,211,888

ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLING JACKET HEATER Filed March 30, 1962 United StatesPatent Office 3,211,888 ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLING JACKET HEATER Lynne E.Windsor, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, assigner to James B. Carter Ltd.,Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada Filed Mar. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 184,645 22Claims. '(Cl. 219-208) My invention relates to new and usefulimprovements in immersion heaters for automobile engines, particularlyimmersion heaters adapted to be inserted within the conventional frostplug aperture formed within the cylinder blocks of the majority ofengines.

The frost plug aperture of most automobile engines is the mostconvenient position for immersion type frost plug heaters. Many attemptshave been made to provide eicient locking means for such heaters whichnot only mechanically lock the heater into position against Waterpressure and vibration, but also efficiently seals the heater so thatleakage does not occur.

Some such heaters utilize extending lingers upon the inner surface ofthe cylinder block `surrounding the boundary of the frost plug heaterbut these suffer from two principal disadvantages. Firstly, of course,the actuating means has to extend through the body portion of the heaterwhich has a tendency to leak and secondly, the mechanical lockinglingers readily corrode thus making removal of the heater, forreplacement purpose, extremely dilcult.

The heater hereinafter to be described, overcomes all of thesedisadvantages by providing a cylindrical body portion not having anymechanical connection therethrough, and a cover plate which locks withthe turning of a nut and which at the same time expands an O-ring in thefrost plug aperture and a mechanical ring which bites into the surfaceof the aperture thus giving efhcient uid sealing and also efficientmechanical sealing. Furthermore, merely by undoing the nut holding thecover plate to the body portion, the entire frost plug can be removedreadily and without any difficulty.

The principal object and essence of my invention is therefore to providean immersion heater adapted to be situated within a frost plug aperturewhich can be sealed against leakage and locked mechanically merely byturning one nut.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which permits the heater to be removed easily.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described which eliminates mechanical linkage sometimes usedto hold the heater within the frost plug.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a device `of thecharacter herewithin described which is extremely simple inconstruction, economical in manufacture, and otherwise well suited tothe purpose for which it is designed.

With the foregoing objects in view, and such other objects andadvantages as will become apparent to those skilled in the art to whichthis invention relates as this specification proceeds, my inventionconsists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all ashereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings in which:-

FIGURE l is a sectioned elevation of the cover plate per se.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation of the body portion showing `samepositioned Within a frost plug aperture.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view showing theaction of the O-ring and the split ring in holding the device within afrost plug aperture.

3,211,888 Patented Oct. 1.2, 19.65

FIGURE 4 is a front plan view, on reduced scale, of my heater per se.

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view of the preferred embodiment ofmy invention.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the different figures.

Proceeding therefore to describe my invention in detail, referenceshould be made to the accompanying drawings in which reference character10 illustrates a conventional cylinder wall bounding a cylindrical frostplug opening 11, reference character 12 indicating the inner surface ofthe cylinder Wall and 13 the outer surface thereof.

My heater collectively designated 14 comprises a cylindrical bodyportion 15 having a conventional immersion element 16 extending from theinner surface 15. Electrical connecting pins 17 extend from the other orouter surface 18 of the body portion and extend through the body portionto be connected with the immersion element 16, it being understood thatthese pins are cemented in place and insulatedfrom the body portion inthe conventional manner.

A recessed or reduced diameter shoulder 19 is formed around the bodyportion extending from the outer surface 18 to a location spaced fromthe inner surface 15 so that the diameter of the inner surface isgreater than the diameter of the outer surface as clearly shown inFIGURE 2, and it will be appreciated that the diameter of the portion 20is just slightly less than the diameter of the frost plug aperture 11 sothat the device can be inserted as shown. The junction between saidreduced diameter shoulder and said portionl 20 forms a retaining flange.

A screw threaded stud 21 is screw threadably secured centrally -of theouter surface 18 and extends therefrom, said stud passing through acentrally located aperture 22 formed within the cover plate 23 whichengages over the stud.

This cover plate is provided with a circular or cylindrical recess 24upon the inner surface thereof and the diameter of this recess isslightly larger than the diameter of the outer surface 18 of the bodyportion so that this recess will slide over the shoulder 19 when thecover plate is entered upon the stud 21. Also to be noted is the factthat the outer diameter of the cover plate is substantially similar tothe -outer diameter of the portion 20 of the body portion.

A rectangular aperture 25 is formed through the cover portion and theaforementioned pins 17 pass through this aperture When the cover portionis entered upon the stud 21, so that a conventional plug can be engagedupon the pins 17, connected to a source of electrical energy.

In order to insure that the cover plate is located in a correct radialposition upon the bod portion, a small locating pin 26 extends from theouter surface 18 of the body portion and is engageable within acorresponding drilling 27 within the cover 23.

When the cover is entered upon the stud 21, a portion ofthe stud extendsbeyond the cover and a conventional nut 28 engages the stud and may beutilized to tighten the cover to the body portion.

Surrounding the shoulder 19 of the body portion is a resilient O-ring 29as shown in FIGURES 2, 3 and 5 and also surrounding the shoulderedportion 19 and against the O-ring 29, is a split ring 30. This splitring is manufactured preferably of a relative hard steel and the crosssectional conguration of this ring is shown in detail in FIGURE 3.

An edge sharpened rim 31 is formed around the periphery of the splitring 30 adjacent the inner side thereof,

3 said rim having the configuration as clearly shown in FIG. 3.

The side 32 of the ring adjacent the rim 31 is concavedly recessed as at33 and engages over a portion of the O-ring when in position as shown inFIGURES 2 and 3.

In operation, the cover is engaged upon the body portion and the nut 28loosely engaged upon the stud 21. The heater element is inserted throughthe frost plug aperture so that it takes up the position shown in FIG-URE 2 whereupon the nut 28 is tightened upon the stud 21. This causesthe portion 34 of the cover plate to bear against the outer side 35 ofthe split ring and further pressure compresses the O-ring which expandsradially thus sealing the device against fluid leakage. Further pressurecauses a hydraulic action between the O-ring and the concave surface 33of the split ring thus forcing the split ring outward in a radialaction, substantially in the direction of arrow 36 thus causing the edgesharpened rim 31 to bite into the wall 37 of the frost plug aperture 11.This gives a mechanical bond as well as a fluid seal. If it is necessaryto remove the frost plug heater, it is merely necessary to slacken olfthe nut 28 whereupon the heater can be removed readily'from the frostplug aperture.

It will be appreciated that means are required in order to insure thatthe heater is not inserted too far within the frost plug aperture and inthis connection I provide a plurality of extending ears or lugs 38formed around the periphery of the cover 24 and these ears engage theouter surface 13 of the cylinder block surrounding the frost plugaperture 11 thus positioning the heater correctly prior to thetightening action. The preceding description discloses the basicprinciple upon which my device operates. However from a productionstandpoint, I prefer to utilize the arrangement illustrated in FIGURE 6which, although operating upon a similar principle, neverthelessfacilitates manufacture and production.

Firstly I iind that instead of the O-ring 29, a D-ring 39 is moresuitable. However this embodiment will work equally well with an O-ringif productions and costs dictate the use thereof rather than theresilient D-ring shown in FIGURE 6.

Secondly rather than utilize the hydraulic action of the O-ring withinthe concaved surface of the split ring 30, I form the split ring 40 withan inclined or chamfered outer surface 41, said chamfer extending allaround the circumference ofthe ring and at an angle of approximately 45degrees.

Similarly the inner edge 34 of the peripheral boundary of the cover 23is also chamfered or inclined substantially parallel with the chamfer 41of the split ring.

The split ring 40 also includes the edge sharpened periphery 31 asdisclosed previously.

In operation, the tightening of the nut upon the bolt 21 forces theparts into engagement, compresses the D-ring thus sealing the heaterwithin the frost plug aperture and causes the split ring to expandradially due to the pressure of the inclined surfaces or chamfers 41 and34 thus engaging the edge sharpened rim 31 within the boundary wall ofthe frost plug aperture as hereinbefore described.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as hereinabovedescribed, and many apparently Widely diiferent embodiments of same madewithin the spirit and scope of the claims without departing from suchspirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in thelaccompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative onlyand not in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A coolant immersion heater for automobile engines and the likeadapted to be inserted into the frost plug aperture in the engine block;comprising in combination va cylindrical body portion, a heater elementextending from one side thereof, electrical contact pins on the otherside thereof connected, through said body portion, to said heaterelement, a reduced diameter shoulder formed around the periphery of saidbody portion extending from said other side to a location spaced fromsaid one side, whereby the diameter of said one side-is greater than thediameter of said other side, a retaining iiange formed by the junctionbetween said shoulder and said location, an apertured cover plate havinga peripheral boundary wall on one side thereof defining a cylindricalrecess on said one side and adapted to engage over said recessedshoulder of said body portion, screw threaded means cooperating betweensaid cover plate and said other side of said body portion adapted toclamp the same together when said screw threaded means is tightened,expandable resilient means around said recessed shoulder and engagingsaid frost plug aperture wall, to seal said body portion against fluidleakage, within the associated frost plug aperture, and furtherexpandable means surrounding said recessed shoulder to detachably locksaid body portion within said frost plug aperture, the said tighteningof said screw threaded means clamping said expandable resilient meansand said further expandable means between said perimetrical boundarywall of said cover and said retaining flange to effect said sealingagainst uid leakage and to effect said detachable locking of said bodyportion within said frost plug aperture, said further expandable meanscomprising split ring means having a portion thereon mechanicallyengageable with the interior wall of the frost plug aperture, said splitring means being provided with means cooperating with at least one ofthe resilient means and the perimetrical boundary wall of the cover, tocause radial expansion of the split ring means into contact with theinterior wall of the frost plug aperture upon tightening of the saidscrew threaded means.

2. The device according to claim 1 in which said resilient meanssurrounding said shoulder comprises a resilient O-ring.

3. The device according to claim 1 in which said portion on said splitring means comprises an edge sharpened, frost-plug-aperture-wallengaging rim formed on the outer periphery of said split ring, one sideof said split ring being recessed, at least a portion of said resilientmeans fitting into said recessed one side, said split ring being adaptedto be expanded by radial expansion of said resilient means when saidscrew threaded means is tightened.

4. The device according to claim 2 in which said portion on said splitring means comprises an edge sharpened, frost-plug-aperture-wallengaging rim formed on the. outer periphery of said split ring, one sideof said split ring `being recessed, at least a portion of said resilientmeans fitting into said recessed one side, said split ring being adaptedto be expanded by radial expansion of said resiliient means when saidscrew threaded means is tightene 5. The device according to claim 3 inwhich said recessed one side of said ring is recessed concavedly.

6. The device according to claim 4 in which said recessed one side ofsaid ring is recessed concavedly.

7. The device according to claim 1 which includes means extending fromthe periphery of said cover plate engageable with the outer surface ofthe associated engine block when said heater is entered within saidfrost plug aperture, adapted to limit the amount by which sald heater isinserted within said frost plug aperture thereby ensuring that saidresilient means and said further expandable means engage the wall ofsaid frost plug aperture when said screw threaded means is tightened.

8. The device according to claim 2 which includes means extending fromthe periphery of said cover plate engageable with the outer surface ofthe associated engine block when said heater is entered within saidfrost plug aperture, adapted to limit the amount by which said heater isinserted within said frost plug aperture thereby ensuring that saidresilient means and said further ex;

pandable means engage the wall of said frost plug aperture when saidscrew threaded means is tightened.

9. The device according to claim 3 which includes means extending fromthe periphery of said cover plate engageable with the outer surface ofthe associated engine block when said heater is entered Within saidfrost plug aperture, adapted to limit the amount by which said heater isinserted within said frost plug aperture thereby ensuring that saidresilient means and said further expandable means engage the Wall ofsaid frost plug aperture when said screw threaded means is tightened.

10. The device according to claim 4 which includes means extending fromthe periphery of said cover plate engageable with the outer surface ofthe associated engine block when said heater is entered within saidfrost plug aperture, adapted to limit the amount by which said heater isinserted within said frost plug aperture thereby ensuring that saidresilient means and said further expandable means engage the wall ofsaid frost plug aperture when said screw threaded means is tightened.

11. The device according to claim 5 which includes means extending fromthe periphery of said cover plate engageable with the outer surface ofthe associated engine block when said heater is entered within saidfrost plug aperture, adapted to limit the amount by which said heater isinserted within said frost plug aperture thereby ensuring that saidresilient means and said further expandable means engage the wall ofsaid frost plug aperture when said screw threaded means is tightened.

12. The device according to claim 6 which includes means extending fromthe periphery of said cover plate engageable with the outer surface ofthe associated engine block when said heater is entered within saidfrost plug aperture, adapted to limit the amount by which said heater isinserted Within said frost plug aperture thereby ensuring that saidresilient means and said further expandable means engage the wall ofsaid frost plug aperutre when said screw threaded means is tightened.

13. A coolant immersion heater for automobile engines and the likeadapted to be inserted within the frost plug aperture in the engineblock; comprising in combination a -cylindrical body portion, a heaterelement extending from one side thereof, electrical contact pins on theother side thereof connected, through said body portion, to said heaterelement, a reduced diameter shoulder formed around the periphery of saidbody portion extending from said other side to a location spaced fromsaid one side, whereby the diameter of said one side is greater than thediameter of said other side, a recessed cover plate engaging over saidshoulder, said cover plate including a perimetrical boundary walldefining the recess thereof, said Wall engaging over said recessedshoulder, clamp means to clamp said cover plate to said body portion,expandable resilient means surrounding said shoulder of said bodyportion and engaging said frost plug aperture Wall, and detachablemechanical expandable locking means also surrounding said shoulder ofsaid body portion, the clamping of said cover plate to said body portionclamping said expandable resilient means and said locking means betweensaid perimetrical boundary wall of said cover and said retaining ange toseal said heater Within said frost plug aperture against fluid leakageand to lock said heater within said frost plug aperture with saidlocking means, said locking means comprising split ring means having aportion thereon mechanically engageable with the interior wall of thefrost plug aperture, said split ring means being provided with meanscooperating with at least one of the resilient means and theperimetrical boundary Wall of the cover to cause radial expansion of thesaid split ring means into contact with the interior wall of the frostplug aperture upon :clamping of said cover plate to said body portion.-

14. The device according to claim 13 in Which said resilient meanssurrcunding said shoulder comprises a resilient O-ring,

15. The device according to claim 13 in which said portion on said splitring means comprises an edge sharpened, frost-plug-aperture-wallengaging rim formed on the outer periphery of Isaid ring, one side ofsaid ring being recessed, at least a portion of said resilient meanstting into recessed one side, said ring adapted to be expanded by radialexpansion of said resilient means when said cover plate is clamped tosaid body portion.

16. The device according to claim 14 in which said portion on said splitring means comprises an edge sharpened, frost-plug-aperture-wallengaging rim formed on the outer periphery of said ring, one side ofsaid ring being recessed, at least a portion of said resilient meansfitting into recessed one side, said ring adapted to be expanded byradial expansion of said resilient means when said cover plate isclamped to said body portion.

17. The device according to claim 1 in which said split ring meanscomprises a split ring surrounding said shoulder, an edge sharpened,frost-plug-aperture-wall engaging rim formed on the outer periphery ofsaid split ring, one side of said ring being chamfered, the innersurface of said peripheral boundary wall of said cover plate beingchamfered correspondingly and engaging said chamfered one side of saidring, said chamfer of said peripheral boundary wall forcing said splitring radially outwardly into engagement with the wall of said frost plugaperture when said screw threaded means is tightened.

18. The device according to claim 17 in which said resilient meanssurrounding said shoulder comprises a resilient D-ring.

19. The device according to claim 17 which includes means extending fromthe periphery of said cover plate engageable with the outer `surface ofthe associated engine block when said heater is entered within saidfrost plug aperture, adapted to limit the amount by which said heater isinserted within said frost plug aperture thereby ensuring that saidresilient means and said further expandable means engage the wall ofsaid frost plug aperture when said screw threaded means is tightened.

20. The device according to claim 13 in which said split ring meanscomprises a split ring surrounding said shoulder, an edge sharpened,frost-plug-aperture-wall engaging rim formed on the outer periphery ofsaid ring, one side of said ring being chamfered, the inner surface ofsaid perimetrical boundary wall of said cover plate also being chamferedcorrespondingly and engaging said chamfered one side of said ring, saidchamfer of said perimetrical boundary wall forcing said split ringradially outwardly into engagement with the wall of said frost plugaperture when said screw threaded means is tightened.

21. The device according to claim 20 in which said resilient meanssurrounding said shoulder comprises a resilient D-ring.

22. The device according to claim 18 which includes means extending fromthe periphery of said cover plate engageable with the outer surface ofthe associated engine block when said heater is entered within saidfrost plug aperture, adapted to limit the amount by which said heater isinserted within said frost plug aperture thereby ensuring that saidresilient means and said further expandable means engage the Wall ofsaid frost plug aperture when said screw threaded means is tightened.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2/57 McKay219-208 X 2/58 Derumaux 219-208 X

1. A COOLANT IMMERSION HEATER FOR AUTOMOBILE ENGINES AND THE LIKEADAPTED TO BE INSERTED INTO THE FROST PLUG APERTURE IN THE ENGINE BLOCK;COMPRISING IN COMBINATION A CYLINDRICAL BODY PORTION, A HEATER ELEMENTEXTENDING FROM ONE SIDE THEREOF, ELECTRICAL CONTACT PINS ON THE OTHERSIDE THEREOF CONNECTED, THROUGH SAID BODY PORTION, TO SAID HEATERELEMENT, A REDUCED DIAMETER SHOULDER FORMED AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF SAIDBODY PORTION EXTENDING FROM SAID OTHER SIDE TO A LOCATION SPACED FROMSAID ONE SIDE, WHEREBY THE DIAMETER OF SAID ONE SIDE IS GREATER THAN THEDIAMETER OF SAID OTHER SIDE, A RETAINING FLANGE FORMED BY THE JUNCTIONBETWEEN SAID SHOULDER AND SAID LOCATION, BY APERTURED COVER PLATE HAVINGA PERIPHERAL BOUNDARY WALL ON ONE SIDE THEREOF DEFINING A CYLINDRICALRECESS ON SAID ONE SIDE AND ADAPTED TO ENGAGE OVER SAID RECESSEDSHOULDER OF SAID BODY PORTION, SCREW THREADED MEANS COOPERATING BETWEENSAID COVER PLATE AND SAID OTHER SIDE OF SAID BODY PORTION ADAPTED TOCLAMP THE SAME TOGETHER WHEN SAID SCREW THREADED MEANS IS TIGHTENED,EXPANDABLE RESILIENT MEANS AROUND SAID RECESSED SHOULDER AND ENGAGINGSAID FROST PLUG APERTURE WALL, TO SEAL SAID BODY PORTION AGAINST FLUIDLEAKAGE, WITHIN THE ASSOCIATED FROST PLUG APERTURE, AND FURTHEREXPANDABLE MEANS SURROUNDING SAID RECESSED SHOULDER TO DETACHABLE LOCKSAID BODY PORTION WITHIN SAID FROST PLUG APERTURE, THE SAID TIGHTENINGOF SAID SCREW THREADED MEANS CLAMPING SAID EXPANDABLE RESILIENT MEANSAND SAID FURTHER EXPANDABLE MEANS BETWEEN SAID PERIMETRICAL BOUNDARYWALL OF SAID COVER AND SAID RETAINING FLANGE TO EFFECT SAID SEALINGAGAINST FLUID LEAKAGE AND TO EFFECT SAID DETCHABLE LOCKING OF SAID BODYPORTION WITHIN SAID FROST PLUG APERTURE, SAID FURTHER EXPANDABLE MEANSCOMPRISING SPLIT RING MEANS HAVING A PORTION THEREON MECHANICALLYENGAGEABLE WITH THE INTERIOR WALL OF THE FROST PLUG APERTURE, SAID SPLITRING MEANS BEING PROVIDED WITH MEANS COOPERATING WITH AT LEAST ONE OFTHE RESILIENT MEANS AND THE PERIMETRAL BOUNDARY WALL OF THE COVER, TOCAUSE RADIAL EXPANSION OF THE SPLIT RING MEANS INTO CONTACT WITH THEINTERIOR WALL OF THE FROST PLUG APERTURE UPON TIGHTENING OF THE SAIDSCREW THREADED MEANS.